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  • From: "Ian Vowles" <Ian@modric.net>
  • To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] NASAR STANDARDS and NASAR MSAR STANDARDS
  • Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:45:21 -0700

Title: Message

Having finally returned to base I would like to share with you my PERSONAL perspective; you should note that some items are what I would like to see but have not yet been agreed on by the committee , these thoughts therefore do not reflect the committee position only my thoughts.

a) Most everyone I know is happy to learn a national basic standard is being developed for MSAR.

b) Those same folks also hope it will be a useful standard for legal protection of agencies using the resource as well as useful to the person working toward qualifying, there is genuine concern for useless stuff getting in there ! - that will certainly be an interesting slant as one persons rubbish is honey to another - for example someone may be delighted to have "judges" and "trail classes"  with mainly arena tests , horses playing football or somesuch - others will only want true field testing and no fancy smancy stuff.  Our job on the committee will be to extract the "skills" which are critical and develop ways to test those.

c) It is MY sincere hope that we will follow the NASAR SARTECH III , II and I program in a philosophical way , i.e. the level III would be created in similar method to the ISAR ( Introduction to SAR ) course and tested as per SARTECH III - i.e. it would ONLY be a written exam. - my reason is simple , you could use this level III course to deal with a great deal of BASIC horsemanship knowledge at a classroom level - included here could be basic horse health issues.  This would follow NASAR protocol and could also end up being a web based exam available to all.

(----- note --- We have introduced SARTECH III as a mandatory requirement for the entire team I am on , no matter what job you do , the reason was to get everyone a basic understanding of SAR....... this program is underway now and our early feedback is that SARTECH III has stimulated some folks to ask for SARTECH II ..... this is the interest we , as team management want to encourage ! )

After completion of level III , I would like to see a person then challenge the level II test - these would be combination of written and practical. Ditto for level I .

d) During some brief chats amongst the committee it became clear that there are a variety of "special" areas , I believe Jorene has addressed that and explained there are likely to be add ons for Wilderness , Urban , Packing etc.

e) The issue of plagiarism was raised - I can state without equivocation , that from my point of view the eventual NASAR MSAR standard will in every right stand on its own merits - the fact that we are daily studying many other standards , operating policies , procedures etc only speaks to the depth and volume of eventual homework on this project .

f) Several good points were also raised about the make up and competency or relevance of committee members - I can only speak for me ! I do not claim to have vast knowledge on horses , I claim no special skills at all on an equine level - when I need information or advice I am surrounded by many skilled horseman ( I could always ride over the hill and visit Pat Parelli !!! - we are neighbors ) However we do have some very skilled horsefolks on the committee, what I bring to the table is extensive usage in the field , often in a managerial capacity - i.e. someone who is or would be a USER of standards to get the skills needed documented. Because I live a in very rural area and the folks I work with are straightforward horse users I hope to provide balance to the opposite side of the coin where too much "horse show" stuff could creep in !!!  I want a standard that works for my team as well as everyone else so simplicity is important to me.

g) As a voting member of NASAR ( 6+ years ) I am committed to the NASAR MSAR standard being written and published by NASAR for the eventual good of us all. I do not support any concept of plagiarizing it , but you will be able to purchase a legitimate copy and use it as you will , in the same way we purchase copies of ISAR for our members and issue them prior to them challenging SARTECH III.

h) With respect to evaluators and testing , I personally cannot see why the existing NASAR system should not work - if Craig Bannerman et al were able to create the entire SARTECH III, II & I system , without any allegations of compromise of the system integrity I fail to see why adding a horse makes a difference !!  Certainly a national respected standard and equally respected system of administration must beat out the local unit created and administered tests ?

I do feel it is very important that the MSAR standard and course "blend" with existing NASAR works and I feel comfortable that this will take place, based on two criteria ;  i) NASAR will write the final proof and has reserved the right to add persons to our committee from NASAR if needed. ii) I am a SARTECH III , Now a SARTECH II , and an Apprentice SARTECH II Evaluator - in other words I am firmly in the system ! In addition we have one other member who is also a NASAR SARTECH II and who also brings an understanding of NASAR to the table.. Before the standard and course are complete I am hopeful I shall have my various instructor certificates to also teach the related NASAR courses - so we will have a couple of members who are very NASAR system simpatico !

In conclusion , it is my opinion that , eventually we will have a very worthwhile set of standards and courses - it will take time , and help from many quarters . Until it is done - we will surely debate questions from time to time , but I would like to echo Mike Dillard - all of us in SAR do it for the subject , we must work together without territorial or ego issues precluding progress- politics belongs elsewhere , THIS IS MOUNTED SEARCH AND RESCUE !

I acknowledge there are many highly competent other bodies out there along with some state systems that are very effective in SAR - locally I know New Mexico ( in my opinion ) has a better system than we do here in Colorado - I highly respect Rick LaValla , Rick Goodman et al and their respective companies or groups and have used their courses , but where training and standards lie for general purposes - I choose to hang my hat with NASAR as the most suitable group.

Note -  I do not believe Air Scenting for horses is appropriate in these standards at present, contrary to Jorene's wish list  ( its not on mine ) ! That does not however disparage the concept - I just don't think it is time now , especially in a national standard.

Its all about choice :-)

Warm wishes to all MSAR folks worldwide.

"That others may live"


Ian Vowles
President, Colorado Mounted Rescue, Inc.
Commander Unit A - Mounted Rescue


Unit A - Mounted Rescue
400 Ranch Place
Pagosa Springs
Colorado 81147

Tel : 970-731-4062

http://www.mountedrescue.com





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